Nikkor 300mm f4.5

[Mark Vaughan]

All,

I just got this Nikkor 300mm f4.5 yesterday at Don's Photography Equipment in Dallas. If you're ever in the area, it's a fun place to stop by - a real treasure trove. One of those shops full of piled-up gear that you must dig through to get to the treasures.

This is not the ED/IF version. Rather, it's the first of the AI versions of this lens. Looking forward to using this outdoors, air shows, nature, daughter's tennis games, etc... My only complaint is that it seems grainy in the viewfinder. The glass perfect, but it might just be light degradation due to the focal length and speed. This is the longest prime lens I own.




Here it is attached to the FM2:


Take care,
Mark

[nikonbob]

Mark

Nice well built lens you picked up. In all but the best light it will be hard to focus manually because of it's slow speed. You might try a different focusing screen like a B2 or B3 to see if that helps with the grainy VF image. They are the same screens but the B2 is for the FM2 series and the B3 is for the FM3a. The B3 is supposedly brighter than the B2. I have no direct experience with either screen so can't say from experience if it will help.

Bob

[mickeyobe]

Mark,

As a long ago user of an Exakta VX IIa I can assure you that the grain is that of the ground glass. The slower the lens the more that grain will become apparent. It in no way degrades the picture.

I was able to greatly improve the viewfinder image by installing a finer glass. Exakta had a good selection of "focusing glasses" from which one could choose. I am not familiar with Nikon equipment but I presume Nikon does as well.

I should think your lens' long focal length would assist your focusing.

It looks like a nice lens. Enjoy it.

Mickey

[Deleted]

I have the older version of this lens --with the silver band by the tripod mount. It was non factory ai'd. Not known for being super sharp but it's not bad stopped down a little. Only gave $45 for it.

Back in the late 1970s I had the same lens for my Nikon F. It was probably a year old when I got it. Paid $300 for it which was A LOT of money in those days. Shot a lot of night football with it with Tri-X rated at around 1600. Only about 1 in 10 frames was usable because of movement and/or shallow depth of field.

Wayne

[Mark Vaughan]

Wayne,

Do you remember whether you had the 5 or 6 element version of this lens? I have read that the 5 element version wasn't so hot. They are easily had on Ebay. The lens is still in production in it's latest iteration as an AF f4. Here's the sequence of the older f4.5's. Can get very confusing. You have to know your serial numbers and codes to understand which lens you have!

1964 - 5 element
1969 - 6 element
1975 - 6 element w/ED glass
1977 - 6 element AI non ED (the one I have - in 1977 ED glass was an expensive option)
1977 - 6 element AI + ED
1978 - 6 element AI + IF+ ED
1981 - 6 wide profile element AI + IF + ED + f32 aperture range

And they all looked pretty much the same! Can't wait to use min.

Mark

[Deleted]

I had (and have) the six element (1969)

[pentaxgraflex]

I'm in Dallas quite often. Where is Don's Equipment located. I'll have to go there.

[drako]

This place in Phoenix is a blast: www.collectiblecameras.com/. In fact, there's some much GOOD stuff that my knees literally get weak and my breathing gets shallow. Hallowed ground!

[carl19]

Hi Mark,

I was wondering if you were happy with your lens as I'm sorely tempted to buy one myself. I currently have the Nikkor 100-300mm f/5.6 zoom, but as I'm using it at the long end more often than not, I was thinking of changing it to a prime lens.

I have seen the 300mm f/4.5 ai version you have for sale in good condition here in the UK, and also the fact it has a tripod collar/mount is a major plus point as my zoom doesn't have this feature.

Thank you.